Why You Should Have A Workout Partner

In the past week I've been reminded how important it is to have a training partner and why I created MyTrainingBuddy.com. A friend of mine who is of very similar running skill to me came out for a long run one night. I had sets in the run that I defiantly wouldn't have ran as hard as I did if he wasn't there. When I wasn't feeling quite as fast he would inch ahead and be the little difference to make me put my head down and work that little bit harder. Same thing when he wasn't feeling quite as fast. It was without a doubt the most motivating, hardest run I've done in quite some time.


Running 7 marathons in 7 days is a very daunting goal for me, but luckily enough I have lots of people who have told me they will run with me for some of the days. I feel more grateful than ever for having training partners!

Greg and I going for a run in Penticton, BC.

What Does It Take To Run 7 Marathons In 7 Days?

October 23-29 I'm going to test my limits and run 7 marathons in 7 days to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. I've never done anywhere close to that much running so I'm not quite sure how it will play out yet. Other than the satisfaction of raising money for heart and stroke research I'm hoping to get a few other things out of running almost 200 miles in a week. I think it'll make me mentally stronger for my training and racing in the future. Finishing my third marathon on day 3 i'll have 75 miles in my legs and I won't even be half done yet. Putting that away in the memory bank to be pulled out on a later date when I'm struggling through a race, long ride, or whatever the situation may be will be very beneficial to me. Knowing that when I was struggling at the end of day 3 and I still had the strength to run 4 more marathons I'm sure will be very uplifting and will help me get through a lot of tough situations in the future. Raising money for a great cause, becoming mentally more fit and hopefully making some new friends along the way will be worth it when it's all over.

I'm going to do a video series that week on how I feel day to day. What I do for recovery, nutrition and things like that. If you wanted to know something specific on how or what I'm going to do for that week just let me know and i'll try to make a video on it.

There will be a contest on our Facebook Group for a chance to win an Armpocket. Just post in the group saying what you think my total time for the 7 marathons will be. Whoever is closest will win a free Armpocket!

They’re not just for running! The handy little pouch is big enough to carry:

• iPhones
• SmartPhones
• Credit Cards
• MP-3 Players
• keys, identification, maps, GPS, camera
• energy bars, gels
• cellphone

Should I Hire A Coach?

Do I really need a coach? A question asked by people for a wide variety of sports. I'll give my 2 cents on whether or not you should have a coach.

For a lot of activities, a beginners clinic will be a great way to kickstart things for you. I've watched many people attend a learn to run clinic (this one was 10 weeks long) and by the end of it they were confident that they knew what to wear, how to stretch, what to eat, and best of all- they were confident that they could run! For other things like swimming you may need a coach, at least for a few sessions so they can teach you proper technique.

For people who want to take their fitness to a new level then a coach is a great idea. Having a coach can push you past what you thought your limits were. Just like having a trainer at the gym. Whether it be running, swimming, weightlifting or whatever you are pursuing having a coach can inspire, encourage, and mentor you because they have been in your shoes and they know what it takes to reach the next level.

There are a few things to look for in deciding who will be lucky enough to coach you.
1.The biggest thing is the initial interview. You have to make sure you two will get along and that your personalities don't clash.
2. Price: You have to be able to afford it and be able to justify that the services you're paying for are worth it.
3. Another thing I feel that is hugely important in choosing a coach is to make sure they are not going to give you a generic plan. Many coaches out there have cookie cutter plans that they give to the athletes they coach. Everyone is different, so should the coaching. A coach needs to learn your weaknesses and show you how to improve on them.

This is my coach and I at Ironman Canada 2011. I decided to hire a coach a few years ago when I started to pursue triathlon. I'm am SO happy I found Greg as a coach. We get along really well and he has been helping me get much faster race after race.

Greg Bradley works out of Calgary during the summer and Hawaii during the winter. He has 1000's of hours worth of training and coaching experience and has completed 18 full Ironman Triathlons. You can check him out at www.legendcoaching.com

Who doesn't pee themselves race morning? Triathlon- 5 things you might not know

Is it weird that I get super grossed out when I see a puddle under a urinal but I'm totally ok with starting a triathlon knowing I'm probably swimming (hopefully not swallowing) someones pee. I thought I'd share 5 points about triathlon that you might not know.

1. Peeing yourself in your wetsuit while in the water is normal! I know it sounds gross, but it's not so bad. Triathletes spend all morning hydrating and making bathroom stops (lineups are usually outrageous) and once you get into your wetsuit and head down to the water, a porta potty is usually not worth it if you have to go #1. If the water is cold it really does help to warm you up too! Writing this down does make me feel like us triathletes are all a little odd! At least the ones that pee ourselves.

2. Peeing yourself on the bike: I figure I might as well keep this theme going. It's not uncommon at all (especially in longer races) to see someone slow down or pull over and let the golden stream flow! It's courteous to make sure no one is behind you and easier to do if going a little faster as to not let it run down your leg into your shoe.

3. Guys shaving their legs: Pretty normal for a guy to shave his legs during a triathlon season. There are a couple reasons for this. It makes road rash not quite so bad. Having hairy legs when you crash can trap in dirt and lead to infection. Another reason is that it makes massage much easier. Triathletes usually care a lot about taking care of their legs and having no hair makes it easier for the massage therapist. Lastly and the most important reason is that it looks good! You gotta show off those legs you worked so hard for.

4. I never thought I'd be excited to try on spandex: When I took up triathlon a few years ago I tried on my first pair of spandex cycling shorts and did not dare to walk out of the changing room. I hoped wearing them around in the privacy of my house I would eventually become comfortable in them. Fast forward a few years and I'm proud to wear my spandex with my shaved legs and have peed in them multiple times (only on race mornings of course).

5. Triathletes spend thousands of dollars to save hundreds of seconds: Many triathletes will spend large amounts of money just to save anywhere from 30seconds to 10min for a race depending on how long it is. We wear funny shaped helmets that help with aerodynamics and cost usually under a few hundred dollars. I would say that is probably the cheapest thing you could buy to help save time during a race. Racing wheels is where it starts to get pretty pricey. You can be looking at anywhere from $2000-$5000 depending on which models/brand you want. The actual bike itself is where most people will spend most of their money (unless you're like me- my racing wheels are worth more than my bike) and can spend anywhere from 2-12 thousand dollars. Those are the biggest money eaters, but don't forget, sunglasses, running shoes, cycling shoes, wetsuit, spandex and energy gels!


Despite all this, triathlon is a great sport. The people are great, the lifestyle is great. I enjoy training for my races and being able to see myself getting faster and stronger and best of all smarter. Everytime I race I find out more about myself and what I'm capable of. Even training, especially during long bike rides, it's usually just me and my thoughts. I have a lot of time to think about life while I'm getting fit and faster. Triathlon has defiantly made me a better person and will continue to.

                    Team Legend Camp in Penticton preparing for Ironman Canada. Great group of people!

MyTrainingBuddy.com's Week of Marathons

I decided to end my racing season this year by doing something really big. I've decided to run a marathon every day of the week from October 22-28. I'm going to be doing this to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. My grandmother has been battling heart disease for the past few years, so it wasn't hard for me to decide on which foundation I wanted to partner up with for this. I hope I'm able to inspire a few of you to get out there and start running, sign up for a race or just start being more active. Aside from motivating others and raising some money for a great foundation, I'm excited to be able to say that I'm crazy enough to run a 7 marathons in 7 days.

Stay tuned for updates. We will be giving away a couple of cool prizes during my week of marathons!

If you would like to make a donation, you can here. 

How To Stay In Shape While On Vacation

Kayle from MyTrainingBuddy shares some tips on staying in shape while on vacation. Enjoy!

Common Fitness Myths...Answered!

There are a lot of common fitness questions and myths out there. I'm going to shed some light on some of those for you.


Myth 1. For the ladies: "Weight Training will make me bulky and muscular looking"


Ladies, don't worry about looking like Arnold. Females cannot naturally produce as much testosterone as men. So even if you work out like an animal, you wouldn't get the results of your male counterparts! If you are thinking to yourself, "what about the musuclar female bodybuilders?" Most of them are taking steroids or another substance to give them the large mass.


Myth 2. I lost 8lbs in my first week on *insert fad diet*!!

Many people will get excited in the first week of being on a brand new diet after they lose a bunch of weight. Healthy weight loss takes time. If you or anyone you know lost let's say 8lbs in a week, congratuations....you are dehydrated! A pound of fat has 3500 calories in it, so to actually lose 8lbs of fat in a week you would have to burn 28000 calories. That's why I say healthy weight loss takes time. If you are looking to shed some of your excess weight, be patient and you'll reach your goal!

Myth 3. Eating before bed causes weight gain

This applies to most people who sit in front of the TV and eat unhealthy snacks before going to sleep. It doesn't matter what time you eat, however, be mindful of what you eat before bed as well as all day long. Your body will store the extra calories as fat.

New Balance Minimus Trail Shoe. Awesome!

I've had the New Balance Minimus trail shoe for about a month now and I finally had the chance to put them to the test. I used them on a long hike up a mountain and ran the whole way down with them too. I was very impressed to say the least! They gripped to everything very well and I felt like I was a mountain goat while I was cruising down the mountain.They are more of a minimalistic shoe and should only be very slowly worked into your runs to avoid injury. Either way I would say it would be a good idea to check in at a specialty running shop and ask if this shoe would be a good fit for you. If you're looking for a trail shoe for this summer to go on some hikes with, this might be your answer! Enjoy

How To Fix A Common Running Problem

A lot of people complain about their heel slipping out of their shoe while they run. What should you do about it? Most people will either buy new shoes or worse yet, they will tie up their shoes extra tight so there is no way their heel will move. That's the last thing you want to do, because tying your shoes too tight will lead to a number of problems, all worse than the heel problem you tried fixed in the first place. Below is a video explaining how to tie your shoes (tighter is not the answer!) so that your heel won't slip as much. More often than not this will fix the problem.

The History of MyTrainingBuddy.com

Hi! This is Dusty, I'm the founder of MyTrainingBuddy.com. With MTB being only a few months old I thought I'd share how and why I decided to launch this online community.

I've always been looking for ways to motivate people, help change their lives, and generally trying to make the world a better place because I was there. All that along with a very longtime love with health and fitness, the idea for the website came to me. It's common knowledge that most people do better and are more motivated when they have someone to do it with (especially some form of exercise). Other than asking friends or family to workout with you, there isn't really any service out there that people can think of to find someone.

Fast forward a few months after the idea popped into my head and I had a website that matched people with similiar skill levels in their area to workout with. Since then, the community has been growing steadily and people have been meeting up to workout together.

My wish is that eventually when anyone has a desire to workout but doesn't know of anyone to train with that they will check out MyTrainingBuddy. Along with finding a training buddy they can search through the site and have any of their fitness questions answered and be updated on anything fitness. We are constantly trying out new ideas to make it the perfect fitness community for you.

In the end, I want MyTrainingBuddy to be responsible for millions of pounds lost, friendships made and most importantly the kickstart in many peoples lives to getting them on the path to health and fitness

Need Some Motivation?

Stumbled across this amazing video the other day. I just had to share this! Never let a fall keep you down, everyone falls sometime...it's whether or not you get up is what defines you.

What To Wear Running In All Weather Conditions

Having worked in a running store in the past, what to wear running in all weather conditions has to be one of the most common questions I used to get. Especially here in Canada where the winters get very cold!

How to Dress For Cold Weather:

What do I wear for winter/cold weather? This has defiantly got to be one of the most asked questions I get when it comes to running apparel. Let’s start off at the feet, always the most important thing when it comes to running- obviously. Winter and cold conditions are almost always accompanied by one of a runner’s worst enemy- ice and snow! So finding a good pair of shoes for these conditions is a high priority. Trail shoes are a good all around choice for a number of reasons. The aggressive tread on trail shoes will eat through the snow much better than a normal runner and will help you keep your footing much better. Most trail shoes will have varying degrees of water resistance and there are some that are specially designed for winter that will even come waterproof and made of Gortex to keep your feet warm! Another great thing about trail shoes (except the ones designed strictly for winter) is that you will be able to wear them in the summer if the mood strikes you to do some trail runs or hikes. However, with all that being said, trail shoes do not have the best traction on ice.

There are a couple of good solutions if you’re scared that you might take a spill on some ice. YakTrax is a simple fix to any ice problem. Basically they are rubber bands with metal coils on the bottom that you wrap around your shoe. Another solution would be to use some shoe screws. Pretty self explanatory- screw screws into your shoes! Just make sure the screws you use won’t be so long that they might press into your foot or else you might have bigger problems than slipping on ice! One disadvantage about using screws is that whatever shoes you use for this will only be good for winter use. Lastly for footwear- socks! Socks really come down to personal preference. Some people don’t need a heavy “warm” sock for winter and others feel like they do. Number one rule in buying socks for any condition of running- NO COTTON! Actually NO COTTON should be a rule you follow for everything you could wear running.  Cotton does not breathe well and when it comes to socks the last thing you want is all the moisture to stay trapped in your sock- unless you like blisters. Your running sock should be made out of synthetic material like polyester because it will wick away the moisture. As for cold weather, the thicker the sock the warmer it will be, naturally. You will have to try out different socks and find out what your preference is.

Now we’ll take a look at what to wear on the lower body. People usually overdress for the lower body in cold conditions. You have to remember that once you start running, all the blood in your body is going to be going into your legs and they will warm up in a hurry. Just a normal pair of tights will be fine for most cold conditions. For really cold conditions thermal tights is the way to go. Thermal tights with wind protection are defiantly worth the extra money, especially if you plan on running outside when it turns very cold. If you feel uncomfortable wearing tights, you can wear a wicking layer (synthetic material) with some wind proof pants over top. So have a tight for cooler conditions and a thermal tight with wind protection for very cold conditions and you’ll be set for your lower body.

Upper body is pretty simple too. For cold weather I find three layers is always the way to go, but not any three layers. The first layer or “base layer” should be made of a synthetic material such as polyester so that it will wick away all the moisture while you run and keep you warm. Second layer is what will keep you warm. Fleece is usually what works best for this layer. This layer should still be somewhat of a wicking material while keeping you warm at the same time. Just make sure it won’t trap all the moisture inside and is still breathable.  Your outer layer or “shell layer” should protect you against all the elements. This layer should be wind and water resistant/proof.

Last to consider for cold weather running are hands and head. Hands are pretty simple too. A wicking glove for cold conditions is usually sufficient enough. On really cold days it will be better to go with some mitts. Oh, and in case you forgot- NO COTTON …EVER! I’m sure by now you can guess what to wear on your head. A fleece toque will be good enough- again make sure it won’t trap in all the moisture. For really cold conditions or when there is wind you will want a balaclava. Basically like a ski mask, with the point being it will cover most of your face except for your eyes, protecting your face from the wind and cold.

Alright, let’s recap what will work best for cold weather running. Trail shoes that you can wear in both cold and hot weather (for trails, hiking, etc) will be the most versatile. If scared of slipping, a pair of YakTrax will provide good traction on the ice. Socks are personal preference and you will have to find out whether or not your feet require a thicker sock in the cold conditions. The lower body can be solved with a couple pair of tights. A normal pair of tights will be fine for cool and even some colder conditions. If you’re brave enough to run once the mercury really starts to drop you will want to invest in thermal tights. Thermal tights with wind protection will be the best choice for those really cold conditions. Upper body clothing will consist of three layers. The base layer will have the job of wicking away the moisture and keeping you dry. The middle layer is what will keep you warm, usually made of fleece. The outer or shell layer will protect you from the elements and is usually wind and water resistant/proof.

How to Dress For Hot Weather:

Dressing for hot weather is a lot simpler than cold weather. We’ll start off with the feet again. A properly fitted running shoe will be best for you. Any specialty running store should be able to fit a shoe for you. Your running shoe should have lots of mesh so your foot can breathe, although 99% of running shoes now come with lots of mesh anyways. I would recommend socks no matter what the temperature. Some people can handle no socks for some shorter distance runs, but a lot of people will just end up getting blisters. You can find socks that are very thin and breathe wonderfully while keeping your feet sweat and blister free.

Shorts and shirts are defiantly personal preference. Loose, comfortable, and breathable shorts and shirts are what you should look for. On very hot days, light colored clothing will be your best bet as it won’t hold in the sun’s heat as much as dark colors. 

Other than that, sunglasses, sunscreen, and hats are important things to take into consideration in hot weather. All of those are self explanatory and will protect you against the sun’s rays.

Tips and Advice:

·         If you experience chaffing while running, any anti-chaffing product will help greatly. Body Glide is a very popular anti-chaffing product among runners.

·         It’s always important while running in the dark to make sure that you have some reflective pieces on your clothing. A lot of running apparel have reflective pieces, but double check in case you plan on running in the dark.

·         Always remember that cotton is a runner’s enemy. Synthetic materials are what you should look for in running apparel. Polyester is the most common.

A Miracle Berry...and a few other cool things

I've came across a few really cool products the past couple weeks so I thought I'd share them with you.

Miracle Berry: Yes, that's the actual name of this berry. I saw it feature on the Doctor Oz show. Basically this berry makes anything you eat taste sweet! This is great because it allows you to be able to eat foods that are good for you but don't taste good. On the show Dr Oz ate a piece of lemon and he said it tasted very sweet- interesting stuff. Here the link to the video for you to check out http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/miracle-food-cures-pt-2.
Not sure what stores carry this but if you google miracle berry you can find places to buy it online.

Fitbit: I stumbled across this cool gadget online. I'm going to quote straight from the Fitbit website just what it does:
"The Fitbit accurately tracks your calories burned, steps taken, distance traveled and sleep quality. The Fitbit contains a 3D motion sensor like the one found in the Nintendo Wii. The Fitbit tracks your motion in three dimensions and converts this into useful information about your daily activities.

You can wear the Fitbit on your waist, in your pocket or on undergarments. At night, you can wear the Fitbit clipped to the included wristband in order to track your sleep. Anytime you walk by the included wireless base station, data from your Fitbit is silently uploaded in the background to Fitbit.com"

This is just plain cool and I felt I had to let you know about it! I think it would be interesting to track calories burned, steps taken and sleep quality for a couple weeks and see where I can improve. I put a picture just below- nice looking too!



Underwater heaphones/mp3 player: This has actually been around for quite some time but I'm finding a lot of people don't know about! Lane swimming can be very boring, being able to take music with you while you swim can really liven up your workout. If this one interests you I know you can get a pair through speedo.

Bosu Ball: Been around for a long time too, but I just tried a bosu ball for the first time a few days ago at the gym. Wow! I did some push up sets on it and it was so much more difficult. It really activiates the stabilizer muscles. Next time you're in the gym, do it up. You can do basically any workouts on a bosu ball, just be careful and don't use too much weight.

 Those are a few cool things I've come across the past couple weeks. All can be very beneficial for your training or just for all around well-being. If you end up using any of these products let us know what you think of them!

Training/Racing Nutrition

With our latest Hammer Nutrition contest going on I thought I'd blog about how important nutrition is in an athletes life. Personally, having hitting the wall or "bonking" more times than I'd like to remember I've learned how important fueling myself while training and racing is. Most of the times I've hit the wall have been in relation to fueling, more specifically not hydrating or taking in enough calories. I'll post a few important tips for proper fueling while you train and race. You should know however, what works for one person might not work for you, so test out energy gels and drinks and find out what works best for you.

1. This is by far the most important tip. DO NOT try something race day that you have not used in training. Experimenting race day is not the time to be doing that, stick with what you trained with. Trying something new might result in stomach problems or a multitude of other things. Ending your race because you decided to try a new product is not very smart
2. Dehydration is the single largest contributor to fatigue when training or racing. Making sure you have a hydration plan is extremely important. Remember that your sense of thirst doesn't kick in until well after you're dehydrated. A way I remember to drink is to set my watch to beep at me every 9 minutes while I'm training. That way I'm always being reminded to hydrate.
3. When running, a sports drink and energy gels are the most practical fuel options. Make sure to select an energy gel that provides sodium along with carbohydrates, such as Hammer gels. Energy gels are designed to be consumed roughly every 30-45 minutes during exercise, along with fluids.
4. Getting in protein, and fluids immediately after exercise is very important! You must get in protein immediately after exercise to repair and build muscle tissue. Obviously, you must also get in fluids after exercise to rehydrate. These two things are key in proper recovery nutrition.

Those are 4 pretty basic points about training/racing nutrition. There are many more points that could be covered but those will give you a good starting point. Remember to try different products and find out what works best for you.

Why Do You Run??

I was recently approached by a normal middle aged man who wanted my advice. This man started off by telling me that his friend (a very dedicated triathlete) had died a few days ago. Unsure of where this story was going I continued to listen. He told me about all the races his friend had entered and that he was even buried in his racing outfit. After the funeral this man and two of his friends were sitting in a bar and decided to do something that their late friend would be absolutely amazed if they did. They decided to sign up for Ironman Canada. None of them have ever swam, biked or ran in their lives, one of them actually asked if they would be able to use his kid's 10 speed bike for the 180km bike course. Less than a year till the race and obviously not knowing a whole lot about the sport will prove to be a huge challenge for these 3 guys. This guy was asking me everything from what to wear, eat, how to run- anything you can think of he probably asked it. I really hope these guys follow through with this and somehow find it in themselves to finish an Ironman with so little training and experience. I have a feeling it will be one of the biggest accomplishments they will ever experience. And best of all, they are doing it for their friend and I'm sure he would have been very proud.

After he said goodbye and left with maybe too much information at once on his plate, I really started to think. On August 28 in beautiful Penticton BC, there will be 3 normal guys who 6 months ago didn't know a thing about triathlon. Now they will have 17 hours to swim, bike and run 226km. Because they wanted to make their late triathlete friend proud they will be digging deeper than they ever have and hopefully overcoming all the obstacles thrown at them that day.

These 3 guys have a pretty inspirational reason why they are deciding to do this. There are hundreds of thousands of people in thousands of races who all have a different story as to why they train and race. People in races shouldn't just be viewed as numbers, they all have a reason why they are there. It could be simply to get in shape, make friends, compete or even do it to honor a friend. So why do you run? If you don't, why not? Chances are whatever your answer to that is, is simply an excuse. Get out the door and go for a run! These 3 guys have 6 months to train for an Ironman Triathlon, they will certainly have a lot of excuses why they would rather do anything else other than go for a 3 hour training ride, but they will do it to honor their friend. The hardest thing in anything is always the first step. Go ahead, put your shoes on and just do it, I promise you'll feel better about yourself.

Still haven't entered in our contest to win a free Timex Ironman Watch? You have until Feb 28 to join mytrainingbuddy.com and enter. Details are on the website.

Looking for a Workout Buddy? Never Workout Alone Again!

Want to find people in your area who want some company and motivation to get out the door and workout? MyTrainingBuddy.com is a brand new fast growing community where members are finding other like minded individuals to train with. Whether it be for weight loss, improve your race times, or just to make friends, My Training Buddy will be a place where you can find those people. With race season and warm weather fast approaching, why not be ready and join today? You will meet new people, become fit, and start living a healthier lifestyle!

Click Here to Join Today!